If the Devils happen to play the Washington Capitals in the next round, then expect the matchup of coaches to be a lot friendlier than if the Rangers move on, but with some history between them as well.

But DeBoer and Capitals coach Dale Hunter go back together to their days in the Ontario Hockey League, where they coached opposing teams from 2001 to 2008. DeBoer coached the Kitchener Rangers and Hunter the London Knights, with them located an hour apart.

DeBoer still remembers one game where after the buzzer, their two captains -- DeBoer had the Ducks' Corey Perry and Hunter had the Kings' Mike Richards -- fought in the middle of the ice.

"There were some wild nights, a lot of good memories," DeBoer said.

It's why he's not surprised by how Hunter has managed to turn the Capitals around this season after taking over in November and installing a more defensive-minded approach.

"I have a lot of respect for Dale Hunter as a coach," DeBoer said. "I coached against him for six, seven years in junior hockey. He worked an hour up the road from me. His teams always played with that type of identity."